Chess Puzzle #2dimy — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1058 · Beginner · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e8; knights a5/d7; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight a5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen f5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Qh8# — queen h7→h8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qh8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp1nqpp1/3p4/n1p1pQN1/2B1P1P1/2PP3P/PP3P2/R4RK1 b - - 0 17

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.